Systems and methods for selecting and wirelessly programming a motor

ABSTRACT

A system for wirelessly programming and diagnosing a motor includes a server computer system, a portable electronic device, and a wireless communication device. The server computer system stores motor operating parameters and other motor data that can be accessed by the portable electronic device over a wireless communication network for identifying a suitable replacement motor for an unserviceable motor. The server computer system also generates motor programming instructions for programming the replacement motor to emulate the unserviceable motor. The portable electronic device wirelessly transmits the motor programming instructions to the wireless communication device for storing the motor programming instructions on a memory of a controller of the replacement motor so that the replacement motor will emulate the unserviceable motor.

BACKGROUND

Motors used in heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) and fluidcirculation systems often must be programmed to operate according to thespecific needs of their systems and must be diagnosed when they do notoperate properly. Currently, the motors are programmed using aspecialized motor programming computer at a motor manufacturingfacility, at the point of sale, or at an assembly plant. Programming amotor that is already onsite requires a technician to return the motorto the motor manufacturing facility or to another designated programmingsite that has the specialized motor programming computer. Similarly,motors at inventory sites that do not have a specialized motorprogramming computer must be sent back to the motor manufacturingfacility to be programmed for their selected applications.

Motors also occasionally have to be replaced with new motors when theymalfunction or otherwise quit working properly. Because motors are madein a variety of sizes and ratings, an onsite technician must stock manytypes of motors to ensure that he has the correct motor for the job.Otherwise, if he has an incorrect motor on hand, he must return to theinventory site to obtain the correct motor. This becomes very timeconsuming and costly over time considering the wide range of motorsystems each requiring specific motor operating parameters.

In addition, a technician must carry many motor diagnostic tools andadaptors for interfacing with and servicing the different motors.

SUMMARY

The present invention solves the above-described problems and otherproblems by providing systems and methods for selecting and wirelesslyprogramming, reprogramming, and diagnosing HVAC motors and other motorsonsite or at the point of sale or inventory. The systems and methods ofthe present invention may be used with motors designed for HVAC systems,pumping systems, washing machines, dishwashers, or any otherelectrically powered devices or systems.

An embodiment of the present invention may be implemented with a motorprogramming system that comprises one or more server computers, a numberof portable electronic devices, and a number of wireless communicationdevices. The server computers may be operated by or for a company thatprovides motor repair and motor replacement services and storesoperating parameters and other data for a number of electric motors. Theportable electronic devices may be operated by motor technicians andinclude a mobile motor servicing application stored thereon. Theportable electronic devices communicate with the server computers via awireless communication network. The wireless communication devicesconnect to the motors to be diagnosed, replaced, and/or programmed andwirelessly communicate with the portable electronic devices.

In use, a technician may carry a portable electronic device and awireless communication device to a motor that needs to be replaced andmay connect the wireless communication device to the motor. Thetechnician may then establish a wireless connection between the portableelectronic device and the wireless communication device. The portableelectronic device may wirelessly retrieve motor information and motoroperation history data from the motor via the wireless connection. Themobile motor servicing application on the portable electronic device mayattempt to diagnose any motor issues and may generate a motor repair ormotor servicing recommendation for the technician to fix the motor. Ifthe motor is no longer operable and needs to be replaced, the portableelectronic device may then transmit the motor information to one of theserver computers over a wireless communication network so that theserver computer can identify the motor.

The server computer then compares the motor information against theoperating parameters and other data stored on its memory and recommendsa replacement motor in the technician's inventory of motors that can beprogrammed to emulate the motor to be replaced. The server computerand/or the portable electronic device then generates or retrieves motorprogramming instructions and wirelessly transmits them to the wirelesscommunication device. The wireless communication device then stores themotor programming instructions on a memory of a controller of thereplacement motor so that the replacement motor emulates the replacedmotor.

An embodiment of the wireless communication device includes acommunication connector, a transceiver, and a communication controller.The communication connector connects the wireless communication deviceto the motor controller and includes pins, wires, or other adaptors. Thetransceiver receives signals from the motor controller via thecommunication connector and wirelessly transmits the signals to theportable electronic device. The transceiver also wirelessly receivessignals from the portable electronic device for being sent to the motorcontroller via the communication connector. The communication controllerdirects the signals being sent between the transceiver and the motorcontroller.

An embodiment of the mobile motor servicing application for the portableelectronic devices includes a graphical user interface that includesbuttons, input boxes, and other user inputs and executable code forimplementing the functions of the invention. For example, the executablecode includes code segments for retrieving motor information such asmotor type and horsepower rating from the motor, retrieving motoroperating parameters and other data stored on a server computer systemor stored in a memory on the portable electronic device, and identifyingthe motor by comparing the motor information and the motor parameters.Additional code segments may diagnose motor issues, generate anappropriate replacement motor recommendation, and reprogram the motor orthe replacement motor based on motor programming instructions that theuser inputs into the graphical user interface.

The present invention provides numerous advantages. For example, atechnician, an aftermarket dealer, an original equipment manufacturer(OEM), or another person can program, reprogram, or diagnose a motorwithout returning it to a location with a specialized motor programmingcomputer. A technician can also stock a small number of motors suitablefor use in many motor systems and can program the motors at the jobsitevia his portable electronic device. In addition, a technician candiagnose a motor via his portable electronic device and does not need tocarry different types of diagnostic tools and adaptors.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the detaileddescription. This summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other aspectsand advantages of the present invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanyingdrawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below withreference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a motor programming system that may beused to wirelessly program and/or diagnose motors and to implement otheraspects of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of selected components of the motorprogramming system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram depicting steps in a method of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram depicting steps in another method of thepresent invention.

The drawing figures do not limit the present invention to the specificembodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearlyillustrating the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description of the invention references theaccompanying drawings that illustrate specific embodiments in which theinvention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describeaspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled inthe art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized andchanges can be made without departing from the scope of the presentinvention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to betaken in a limiting sense. The scope of the present invention is definedonly by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents towhich such claims are entitled.

In this description, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or“embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to areincluded in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separatereferences to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” inthis description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and arealso not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. Forexample, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment mayalso be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included.Thus, the present technology can include a variety of combinationsand/or integrations of the embodiments described herein.

Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods forwirelessly diagnosing motors, wirelessly programming new motors,selecting replacement motors, and wirelessly programming replacementmotors to emulate the operation of motors that are no longerserviceable. The systems and methods of the present invention may beused with motors designed for HVAC systems, refrigeration systems,washing machines, dishwashers, or any other electrically-powered devicesor systems.

A technician using the systems and methods of the present invention toreplace an original motor that can no longer be viably serviced maycarry with him or in his service vehicle a small number of replacementmotors from which he must be able to select the replacement motor thatbest or most effectively emulates the original motor. To select thecorrect replacement motor, the technician must be able to identify theoriginal motor and/or its technical information and must have access tooperating parameters and motor data of the replacement motors to whichthe original motor information may be compared. The systems and methodsof the present invention wirelessly retrieve motor information from theoriginal motor and wirelessly access operating parameters and motor datastored on server computer systems over a wireless communication network.The server computer systems make a replacement motor recommendation andtransmit the motor recommendation to the technician's portableelectronic device. The technician then uses the motor recommendation toselect the replacement motor from the replacement motors on hand andreplaces the original motor with the replacement motor. The technicianthen connects the wireless communication device to the replacement motorand establishes a wireless connection between the portable electronicdevice and the wireless communication device to wirelessly program thereplacement motor to emulate the original motor.

The present invention may be used with any type of electronic motors.The motors may operate on direct current (DC) or alternating current(AC), may be synchronous or asynchronous, and may be single phase orthree phase. The motor may be of any type, including but not limited to,permanent split capacitor (PSC) motors, brushed DC motors, switchedreluctance motors, coreless or ironless DC motors, series wounduniversal motors, induction motors, torque motors, or stepper motors.Moreover, the motors may be fixed speed, multi-speed, or variable speedand may have any horsepower (HP) rating.

Each of the motors may have an integral or separate motor controllerthat provides power to and controls operation of its motor. Each motorcontroller may include any combination of circuitry, hardware, firmware,and/or software and may include an interface box such as an analog todigital translator. The interface box converts one type of connectionpoint of the motor controller, such as a 4-wire communication port, toanother type of connection point such as a 16-pin communication port.

The motors may need to be replaced with replacement motors that can beprogrammed to emulate the operating parameters of the motors to bereplaced. One replacement motor may be programmable to replace 2, 5, 10,or more different types of motors. However, the principles of thepresent invention are not limited to any particular motor type,technology, or size.

Each replacement motor may have an integral or separate motor controllerthat provides power to and controls operation of the motor. Each motorcontroller may include any combination of circuitry, hardware, firmware,and/or software and may include an interface box for converting one typeof connection point of the motor controller to another type ofconnection point.

Aspects of the present invention may be at least partially implementedwith a motor programming system broadly referred to by the numeral 10 inFIG. 1. The motor programming system 10 is shown with original, new andreplacement motors 12, 14, and 16 and a replacement motor 18 forreplacing the original motor 12, but the principles of the invention areapplicable to any number and type of motors.

The motor programming system 10 includes one or more server computers20, 22, one or more portable electronic devices 24, 26, 28, one or morewireless communication devices 30, and a mobile motor servicingapplication. The server computers and portable electronic devices 24,26, 28 in the motor programming system 10 may be operated by any personsor entities. For example, the server computers 20, 22 may be operated bya system administrator, and the portable electronic devices 24, 26, 28may be operated by motor installers, service technicians, or homeownerswho replace motors in HVAC systems, washing machines, dishwashers, orany other electrical device or system.

The components of the motor programming system 10 illustrated anddescribed herein are merely examples of equipment that may be used toimplement embodiments of the present invention and may be replaced withother equipment without departing from the scope of the presentinvention. Some of the illustrated components of the system 10 may alsobe combined and/or may be operated by the same persons or entities.Similarly, the aspects of the invention performed with the portableelectronic devices 24, 26, 28 may be performed with the server computers20, 22 and vice versa.

In more detail, the server computers 20, 22 are provided for storingmotor operating parameters and other motor data for a number of motors.The server computers 20, 22 may also implement one or more computerprograms for performing some of the functions described herein and mayprovide a web-based portal that can be accessed by the portableelectronic devices 24, 26, 28 and other computers.

Embodiments of the server computers 20, 22 may include one or moreservers running Windows; LAMP (Linux, Apache HTTP server, MySQL, andPHP/Perl/Python); Java; AJAX; NT; Novel Netware; Unix; Mac OS; or anyother software system. The server computers 20, 22 include or haveaccess to computer memory and other hardware and software for receiving,storing, accessing, and transmitting information via a wirelesscommunication network 32 as described below. The server computers 20, 22may also include conventional web hosting operating software, searchingalgorithms, and an Internet connection, and are assigned URLs andcorresponding domain names so that they can be accessed via the Internetin a conventional manner.

The portable computing devices 24, 26, 28 may be any devices used bymotor installers, service technicians, or others while programming,diagnosing, or replacing motors in HVAC systems or otherelectrically-powered devices or systems. The portable electronic devices24, 26, 28 may be any type of mobile smartphone, handheld device,tablet, laptop computer, or portable gaming system. The portableelectronic devices 24, 26, 28 each include a touch screen display or asimilar screen with button inputs and further include computinghardware, software, memory, and wireless transmitting and receivinghardware and software. The portable electronic devices 24, 26, 28 eachpreferably include or can access an Internet browser and a conventionalInternet connection such as a wireless broadband connection, DSLconverter, or ISDN converter so that it can receive communications fromthe server computers 20, 22 via the communications network 32 describedbelow.

The wireless communication device 30 wirelessly communicates with theportable electronic device 24 and includes a transceiver, acommunication controller 34, a communication connector 36, and a powersource 38, as shown in FIG. 2. The transceiver wirelessly transmitssignals to and receiving signals from the portable electronic device 24via a Bluetooth, radio frequency, 3G, 4G, 5G, or near field technologyconnection. The communication controller 34 directs the wireless signalsreceived from the portable electronic device 24 and the signals sentfrom the motor controller of the motor 12 and may be a processor, acommunication bus, a router, or other signal control device.

The communication connector 36 connects the wireless communicationdevice 30 to the motor controller or the interface box of the motor 12and includes cables, wires, pins, pin receivers, clips, plugs, or otherconnection points such as a 4-wire, 16-pin, or serial communicationconnector. The communication connector 36 may include two or moreconnecting points for connecting to different types of motors.

The power source 38 may be a power cord for plugging into a 120V or 240Vwall outlet, a battery pack, or a usb or a proprietary portableelectronic device cable. For example, the wireless communication device30 may be plugged into a wall outlet or may be plugged into the portableelectronic device 24 via a usb cable.

A mobile motor servicing application may be stored on each of theportable electronic devices 24, 26, 28. An embodiment of the mobilemotor servicing application broadly includes a graphical user interface40 and executable computer code for implementing aspects of theinvention.

The graphical user interface 40 includes virtual images, text, textinput boxes, checkboxes, buttons, and other user-selectable inputs. Thegraphical user interface 40 may have a layout that mimics the look ofmotor controls of the motor 12 or the interface box of the motor 12 andmay also include user instructions in the form of text, icons, images,videos, and other visual cues.

The executable computer code is provided for implementing logicalfunctions in the portable electronic devices 24, 26, 28 and can beembodied in any non-transitory computer-readable medium for use by or inconnection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device,such as the portable electronic devices 24, 26, 28, aprocessor-containing system, or other system that can fetch theinstructions from the instruction execution system, apparatus, ordevice, and execute the instructions. In the context of thisapplication, a “non-transitory computer-readable medium” can be anynon-transitory memory that can contain, store, or communicate theprograms. The non-transitory computer-readable medium can be, forexample, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical,electro-magnetic, infrared, or semi-conductor system, apparatus, ordevice. More specific, although not inclusive, examples of thenon-transitory computer-readable medium would include the following: anelectrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computerdiskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), anerasable, programmable, read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), anoptical fiber, and a portable compact disk read-only memory (CDROM). Themobile applications or computer programs may be distributed betweenportable electronic devices or may be downloaded from a virtualapplication marketplace such as the App Store and Google Play. Themobile motor servicing application may be stored on the non-transitorymemory of the portable electronic devices 24, 26, 28 or may reside onone of the server computers 20, 22 and can be accessed over a wirelessinternet connection.

The communication network 32 is preferably the Internet but may be anyother communication network such as a local area network, a wide areanetwork, or an intranet. The communications network 32 may include or bein communication with a wireless network capable of supporting wirelesscommunications such as the wireless networks operated by AT&T, Verizon,or Sprint. The communication network 32 may also be combined orimplemented with several different networks.

A method of selecting and wirelessly programming a replacement motor 18for replacing an original motor 12 via the system 10 will now bedescribed with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 3. Some of the blocksof the flow chart may represent a step or steps in a method or a modulesegment or portion of code of the mobile applications and computerprograms of the present invention. In some alternative implementations,the functions noted in the various blocks may occur out of the orderdepicted in FIG. 3. For example, two blocks shown in succession in FIG.3 may in fact be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order depending upon thefunctionality involved.

A service technician may first connect the communication connector 36 ofthe wireless communication device 30 to a connection point on thecontroller or the interface box of an original motor 12 that needs to bereplaced, as shown in block 100. The connection point of thecommunication connector 36 that correctly interfaces with the connectionpoint of the controller or the interface box of the motor 12 may need tobe selected from the different connection points provided by thecommunication connector 36. For example, the 16-pin adaptor should beused to connect the wireless communication device 30 to a 16-pincommunication port of the interface box.

The technician also plugs in or turns on the power source 38 of thewireless communication device 30, as shown in block 102.

The technician then establishes a wireless connection between theportable electronic device 24 and the wireless communication device 30,as shown in block 104. The mobile motor servicing application on theportable electronic device 24 may display an indication that a wirelessconnection has been made and may display a current status of the motor12 such as “operational” or “standby”.

The wireless communication device 30 then wirelessly transmitsinformation about the motor 12 such as a model number, HP rating, inputvoltage, manufacturer name, and other motor information to the portableelectronic device 24 over the Bluetooth or other wireless connection, asshown in block 106. The graphical user interface 40 of the portableelectronic device 24 then displays the information.

The portable electronic device 24 then wirelessly transmits the motorinformation to one of the server computers 20, 22, as shown in block108. The motor information may be transmitted automatically or after thetechnician initiates the motor information transmission.

The server computer 20 receives the motor information and compares themotor information to motor operating parameters and motor data of anumber of motors stored on its memory to identify the original motor 12,as shown in block 110. For example, the server computer 20 may use amanufacturer name and a HP rating of the original motor 12 to determinea model number of the original motor 12.

The server computer 20 identifies a replacement motor or motors from theavailable replacement motors that most closely or most effectively canemulate the original motor 12 and generates a motor recommendationrepresentative of the replacement motor, as shown in block 112. Forexample, the server computer 20 may identify a replacement motor thathas the same input voltage as the original motor 12 and that has thesmallest HP range that includes the HP rating of the original motor 12.The replacement motor recommendation may be a model number, a brandname, a motor operating parameter, or any other information thatidentifies a suitable replacement motor and may include installationinstructions for aiding the technician in installing the replacementmotor.

The server computer 20 also generates motor programming instructionsbased on the original motor information, as shown in block 114.Alternatively, the server computer 20 may retrieve motor programminginstructions that have been designated for emulating the original motor12. The motor programming instructions may be machine-readable computerdata or may be in human readable form.

The server computer 20 then wirelessly transmits the replacement motorrecommendation and the motor programming instructions to the portableelectronic device 24, as shown in block 116.

The technician may input additional motor programming instructions intothe mobile motor servicing application via the graphical user interface40, as shown in block 118. The additional motor programming instructionsmay be used for overriding and/or supplementing parts of the motorprogramming instructions transmitted from the server computer 20.

The technician uses the replacement motor recommendation to select areplacement motor (e.g., replacement motor 18) and installs thereplacement motor 18 in place of the original motor 12, as shown inblock 120. The graphical user interface 40 of the mobile motor servicingapplication may then display the installation instructions transmittedwith the replacement motor recommendation to aid the technician ininstalling the replacement motor 18.

The technician then connects the communication connector of the wirelesscommunication device 30 to the connection point of the controller or theinterface box of the replacement motor 18, as shown in block 122. Theportable electronic device 24 or the wireless communication device 30may indicate that the wireless communication device 30 is properlyconnected to the replacement motor 18.

The portable electronic device 24 then wirelessly transmits the motorprogramming instructions to the wireless communication device 30, whichsends the motor programming instructions to the controller of thereplacement motor 18, as shown in block 124.

The motor programming instructions are then stored on the memory of thereplacement motor's controller, as shown in block 126. The replacementmotor's controller will reference the motor programming instructions andwill instruct the replacement motor 18 to operate in the same way as theoriginal motor 12. For example, the controller may instruct thereplacement motor 18 to operate at the same operating speed and torqueas the original motor 12.

The above-described systems and methods for selecting and programming areplacement motor for replacing an original motor provide severaladvantages over conventional systems for selecting and programmingreplacement motors. For example, a technician can stock a few motorssuitable for use in many applications and does not need to transport orhave access to large inventories of motors for selecting a suitablereplacement motor. The technician can use his own or a readily availableportable electronic device to program the motor and does not need totake the motor to a location with a specialized motor programmingcomputer.

An aftermarket dealer or an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) canalso program the replacement motor at the point of purchase or at thepoint of assembly without sending the motor back to the manufacturingfacility. Also, the aftermarket dealer or OEM can stock a fewmulti-purpose motors instead of stocking large inventories of limitedpurpose motors.

A method of wirelessly servicing a motor 12 via a mobile motor servicingapplication on the portable electronic device 24 will now be describedin more detail. Some of the blocks of the flow chart may represent astep or steps in a method or a module segment or portion of code of themobile applications and computer programs of the present invention. Insome alternative implementations, the functions noted in the variousblocks may occur out of the order depicted in FIG. 4. For example, twoblocks shown in succession in FIG. 4 may in fact be executedsubstantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed inthe reverse order depending upon the functionality involved.

A service technician may first connect the communication connector 36 ofthe wireless communication device 30 to a connection point on thecontroller or the interface box of an original motor 12 that needs to beserviced, as shown in block 200. The connection point of thecommunication connector 36 that correctly interfaces with the connectionpoint of the controller or the interface box of the motor 12 may need tobe selected from the different connection points provided by thecommunication connector 36. For example, the 16-pin adaptor should beused to connect the wireless communication device 30 to a 16-pincommunication port of the interface box.

The technician also plugs in or turns on the power source 38 of thewireless communication device 30, as shown in block 202.

A wireless connection is then established between the portableelectronic device 24 and the wireless communication device 30, as shownin block 204. The mobile motor servicing application on the portableelectronic device 24 may display an indication that a wirelessconnection has been made.

The wireless communication device 30 transmits information about themotor such as a model number, HP rating, input voltage, manufacturername, and other motor information to the portable electronic device 24via the Bluetooth or other wireless connection. The graphical userinterface 40 of the mobile motor servicing application may then displaythe motor information on the display screen of the portable electronicdevice 24.

The wireless communication device 30 then transmits a wireless signalrepresentative of a motor controller error, a mechanical failure, anelectrical failure, or other issue to the portable electronic device 24over the Bluetooth or other wireless connection, as shown in block 206.The information in the wireless signal may be a nonhuman-readablediagnostic code or a proprietary code indicative of the motor issue.

The wireless communication device 30 may also transmit motor operatinghistory data stored on the memory of the motor controller to theportable electronic device 24, as shown in block 208. The motoroperating history data may contain useful diagnostic information aboutthe performance of the motor 12 such as operating hours, peak voltages,and operating temperatures.

The mobile motor servicing application interprets and analyzes thewireless signal representative of the motor issue and the motoroperating data to diagnose the motor issue, as shown in block 210. Forexample, the mobile motor servicing application may interpret a code inthe wireless signal to represent an electrical short or an imbalancedmotor. The mobile motor servicing application may compare recordedvoltage data to determine that the motor 12 is frequently receivingovervoltages.

The mobile motor servicing application then generates an error messageor a diagnostic report based on the above analysis and displays theerror message or diagnostic report via the graphical user interface 40,as shown in block 212. For example, the error message may indicate thatthe motor issue could not be determined. The diagnostic report mayindicate that the motor 12 is in danger of overheating or that thewiring insulation of the motor 12 may be at the end of its expected lifecycle.

The mobile motor servicing application may also generate or retrievefrom memory a recommendation for fixing or replacing the motor 12 basedon the above analysis, as shown in block 214. The graphical userinterface 40 of the mobile motor servicing application may display therecommendation on the display screen of the portable electronic device24. Alternatively, the mobile motor servicing application may retrieve arecommendation for fixing or replacing the motor 12 from its memory orthe memory of a server computer that has been determined to be the bestsolution for fixing or replacing the motor 12.

The above-described systems and methods for wirelessly servicing motorsvia a portable electronic device 24 provide several advantages overconventional systems for servicing motors. For example, a technician candiagnose a motor without carrying different types of motor diagnostictools and adaptors because the communication connector 36 is compatiblewith many motor controller connection types.

A person such as a homeowner can also use the systems and methods of thepresent invention to diagnose the motor without requesting theassistance of a technician. This allows the homeowner to immediatelyaddress critical HVAC or pump issues such as when a heater motormalfunctions during the winter.

Although the invention has been described with reference to theembodiments illustrated in the attached drawing figures, it is notedthat equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims.

Having thus described various embodiments of the invention, what isclaimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includesthe following:

1. A wireless communication device for programming a motor of anelectrically-powered device or system, the wireless communication devicecomprising: a transceiver configured to receive wireless signals from aportable electronic device and to transmit signals from a controller ofthe motor to the portable electronic device; a communication controllerfor directing the wireless signals received from the portable electronicdevice and the signals sent from the controller of the motor to thewireless communication device; a communication connector configured toconnect the wireless communication device to the controller of the motorfor carrying signals therebetween; and a power source for providingpower to the wireless communication device.
 2. The wirelesscommunication device of claim 1, wherein the communication connector isconfigured to connect the wireless communication device to an interfacebox on the motor.
 3. The wireless communication device of claim 2,wherein the communication connector includes a 16-pin connection end forconnecting to a 16-pin connection point on the interface box of themotor.
 4. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein thecommunication connector includes at least two different types ofconnector ends for connecting to at least two different types of motorconnection points.
 5. A motor programming system for programming motors,the system comprising: a server computer system including anon-transitory computer readable medium for storing identificationinformation for a number of original motors thereon; a wirelesscommunication device configured to be connected to an original motor forretrieving motor information therefrom; a portable electronic deviceconfigured to wirelessly receive the motor information from the wirelesscommunication device and to transmit the motor information to the servercomputer system over the wireless communication network; and a programstored on the non-transitory computer readable medium and configured toidentify a motor type of the original motor, to generate a replacementmotor recommendation based on the original motor type, and to transmitthe replacement motor recommendation to the portable electronic deviceover the wireless communication network so that a technician canretrieve an appropriate replacement motor.
 6. The system of claim 5,wherein the program is further configured to generate motor programminginstructions and to transmit the motor programming instructions to theportable electronic device over the wireless communication network;wherein the portable electronic device is further configured towirelessly transmit the motor programming instructions to the wirelesscommunication device; and wherein the wireless communication device isfurther configured to send the motor programming instructions to amemory of a controller of the replacement motor so that the replacementmotor will emulate performance characteristics of the original motor. 7.The system of claim 5, further comprising a mobile motor servicingapplication stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium of theportable electronic device, the mobile motor servicing applicationincluding a graphical user interface for inputting motor programminginstructions therein, the portable electronic device being furtherconfigured to wirelessly transmit the motor programming instructions tothe wireless communication device; and the wireless communication devicebeing further configured to send the motor programming instructions to amemory of a controller of the replacement motor so that the replacementmotor will emulate performance characteristics of the original motor. 8.The system of claim 5, wherein the portable electronic device and thewireless communication device are configured to communicate with eachother over the wireless communication network.
 9. The system of claim 5,wherein the portable electronic device and the wireless communicationdevice are configured to communicate with each other via Bluetoothwireless technology.
 10. The system of claim 5, wherein the portableelectronic device and the wireless communication device are configuredto communicate with each other via a wireless internet connection. 11.The system of claim 5, wherein the portable electronic device and thewireless communication device are configured to communicate with eachother via a 3G, 4G, or 5G mobile communication network.
 12. The systemof claim 5, wherein the wireless communication device comprises: atransceiver configured to receive wireless signals from the portableelectronic device and to transmit signals from a controller of the motorto the portable electronic device; a communication controller fordirecting the wireless signals received from the portable electronicdevice and the signals sent from the controller of the motor to thewireless communication device; a communication connector configured toconnect the wireless communication device to the controller of the motorfor carrying signals therebetween; and a power source for providingpower to the wireless communication device.
 13. The system of claim 12,wherein the communication connector of the wireless communication deviceis configured to connect the wireless communication device to aninterface box on the motor.
 14. The system of claim 12, wherein thecommunication connector of the wireless communication device includes atleast two different types of connector ends for connecting to at leasttwo different types of motor connection points.
 15. The system of claim5, wherein the identification information is selected from the groupconsisting essentially of motor type, motor rating, motor horsepower,model number, and manufacturer.
 16. A method of identifying areplacement motor for an electrically-powered device or system, themethod comprising: retrieving motor information of an original motor ofthe electrically-powered device or system; wirelessly transmitting themotor information from a wireless communication device connected to themotor to a portable electronic device; transmitting the motorinformation from the portable electronic device to a server computersystem over a wireless communication network; comparing the motorinformation to motor information stored on a non-transitory computerreadable medium on the server computer system; generating arecommendation for a replacement motor based on the motor information;and transmitting the replacement motor recommendation from the servercomputer system to the portable computing device over the wirelesscommunication network so that a technician can select a replacementmotor based on the replacement motor recommendation.
 17. The method ofclaim 16, further comprising the steps of connecting the wirelesscommunication device to the replacement motor, generating a motorprogramming instruction, and wirelessly transmitting the motorprogramming instruction from the portable electronic device to thewireless communication device for programming the replacement motor sothat the replacement motor will emulate the original motor.
 18. Themethod of claim 17, wherein the server computer system is configured togenerate the motor programming instruction.
 19. The method of claim 18,further comprising the step of transmitting the motor programminginstruction from the server computer system to the portable electronicdevice over the wireless communication network.
 20. The method of claim17, wherein the step of generating a motor programming instructionincludes inputting the motor programming instruction into a graphicaluser interface of a mobile motor servicing application on the portableelectronic device.